Fuller on hand to dedicate mountain lion display

A small crowd gathered around a life-sized, live-looking mountain lion in Maturango Museum’s natural history exhibit as State Senator Jean Fuller awarded the museum a proclamation Friday night.The proclamation was a high point for the museum’s Open House event to kick off its 50th anniversary with the stuffed ...

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By Jack Barnwelljbarnwell@ridgecrestca.com

Gridley Herald - Gridley, CA

By Jack Barnwelljbarnwell@ridgecrestca.com

Posted Oct. 6, 2012 at 6:19 PM
Updated Oct 6, 2012 at 6:26 PM

By Jack Barnwelljbarnwell@ridgecrestca.com

Posted Oct. 6, 2012 at 6:19 PM
Updated Oct 6, 2012 at 6:26 PM

A small crowd gathered around a life-sized, live-looking mountain lion in Maturango Museum’s natural history exhibit as State Senator Jean Fuller awarded the museum a proclamation Friday night.

The proclamation was a high point for the museum’s Open House event to kick off its 50th anniversary with the stuffed mountain lion the star of the show.

“Thank you for hanging on for the years it took to get the cat out of the freezer,” Fuller said as she presented the proclamation to museum Executive Director Harris Brokke.

Fuller made a $1,000 donation to the exhibit following her speech and encouraged others to make donations of their own.

The mountain lion’s saga started when it was found by naturalist Ryan Young in 2008.

The Department of Fish and Game soon became entangled in the mess, as the California Protection Act prohibited any use of a mountain lion or product of it.

For years, the big cat lingered in the museum’s freezer while the museum worked with Fuller’s office.

“They called and said there was this specimen that they wanted to stuff but couldn’t,” Fuller said following the ceremony. “It turns out there were a lot of obstacles.”

She said it required her to pass legislation requiring a four-fifths approval from the state legislature. The bill passed both the state assembly and senate unanimously and Gov. Jerry Brown on Sept. 30, 2011.

“When the governor sent me the bill memo that got passed with four-fifths vote, he asked why I wasn’t helping him with his tax stances,” she said.

Fuller said thanks to the bill, dubbed “Get the Cat out of the Bag,” the museum made some new connections up and down the state.

“They have one of the few specimens in the state,” she said. “I think it’s a beautiful specimen of wildlife that the children can learn from.”

During the open house, Brokke thanked the community and Sen. Fuller for their support.

The lion was on display for that night only and will be placed in storage while a protective display case is constructed.

Ridgecrest Area Convention & Visitors Bureau Executive Director Doug Lueck attended the event and said it was a great exhibit. The taxidermists that did the job were very talented.

“I’ve seen work other people have done and this mountain lion is one of the best I’ve seen,” Lueck said. “I think the community really has gained a great asset here.”

The open house was the first of a weekend packed with events and tours. For a guide, visit: www.maturango.org/50thinfo.html